Big Orange Book Festival

It's the first-ever and Chapman University is the place. Ready, bookworms?

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BOOKS GALORE: The state of publishing and book-related events is often a worrisome topic for those who love their stories something fierce. But as far as get-togethers where authors gather and panelists chitchat and books are sold and signed? Those aren't merely healthy, they're apparently thriving, and very much so around Southern California parts. There's the massive Los Angeles Times Book Festival each spring, and specialized fairs dotting cities up and down the state. And now there's a new one to add to the bunch, launching its first year, which says to us that the book events must be healthy indeed. It's the Big Orange Book Festival, it spreads its pages over Friday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22 and a host of of authors and literary greats are set to show at the free party.

YEP, WE SAID "FREE": So that right there might be worth taking Friday off and making for the festival's location at Chapman University (the "Orange" part of the name probably gave away the city and county it takes place in). Alice Sebold ("The Lovely Bones") and Sapphire ("Push") are two of the authors set to show; Mary Badham, who played Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird," will also be at the festival (a 50th anniversary screening is planned). In addition to speakers and signings, the fest will host a number of exhibitors selling books and bookly things, if that's your bag (let's assume that it is, if you're here at this post). In short, it's a fine fall festival celebrating the word, and, given that it is its inaugural outing, page lovers will come out in support, one hopes. One book festival does well, more can blossom, down the road.